Zoom lens and imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

A zoom lens includes a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, which are in this order from an object side, and a stop located between a most image-side surface of the second lens group and a most image-side surface of the third lens group. Distances between the lens groups change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end. The third lens group consists of a positive lens, a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side, and a biconvex lens, which are in this order from the object side. Further, a predetermined conditional formula is satisfied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a zoom lens and an imaging apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a zoom lens appropriate for a digital camera, a video camera and the like, and to an imaging apparatus including the zoom lens.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, as personal computers spread to ordinary families, digital cameras that can input image information, such as a landscape and a portrait, obtained by photography to personal computers became widely used. Since the function of the digital cameras became higher recently, a demand for a digital camera with a high-magnification zoom lens mounted thereon is increasing.

Therefore, for example, a zoom lens with a high magnification ratio, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-219040 (Patent Document 1), is used. The zoom lens consists of a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, which are in this order from an object side. The magnification of the zoom lens is changed by changing distances between the groups. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-207715 (Patent Document 2) discloses a zoom lens with similar basic structure to that of Patent Document 1. Patent Document 2 discloses, as a four-group zoom-type zoom lens with a high magnification ratio, a zoom lens having a small Fno. at a wide angle end while achieving a high variable magnification ratio. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-217478 (Patent Document 3) discloses a zoom lens having excellent optical performance while achieving a high magnification ratio.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in recent years, a need for a zoom lens having a small Fno. and high image qualities while achieving small size and a high magnification ratio is also increasing. The zoom lenses disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a large Fno. at a wide angle end or at a telephoto end. Therefore, a lens having a smaller Fno. is needed. Further, in the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 3, the ratio of the total length of the entire lens to an image size is large. Therefore, further reduction in size is needed.

In view of the foregoing circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a zoom lens with excellent optical performance achieving a small Fno. and high image qualities while the size of the zoom lens is small and the magnification ratio of the zoom lens is high, and an imaging apparatus including the zoom lens.

A zoom lens of the present invention is a zoom lens substantially consisting of four lens groups of:

a first lens group having positive refractive power;

a second lens group having negative refractive power;

a third lens group having positive refractive power; and

a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, which are in this order from an object side; and

a stop located between a most image-side surface of the second lens group and a most image-side surface of the third lens group,

wherein distances between the lens groups change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, and

wherein the third lens group consists of a positive lens, a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side, and a biconvex lens, which are in this order from the object side, and

wherein the following conditional formula (1) is satisfied: −0.7<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.4  (1), where

R17: a paraxial curvature radius of an image-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group, and

R18: a paraxial curvature radius of an object-side surface of the biconvex lens in the third lens group.

In the present invention, each “lens group” does not necessarily consist of plural lenses. Lens groups may include a lens group consisting of only one lens.

The expression “substantially consisting of four lens groups” means that a zoom lens of the present invention includes a lens substantially without refractive power, an optical element, such as a stop and a cover glass, which is not a lens, a mechanism part, such as a lens flange, a lens barrel, an imaging device and a hand shake blur correction mechanism, and the like besides the four lens groups.

Further, in the zoom lens according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable that the image-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group is an aspherical surface in which positive refractive power becomes weaker from an optical axis toward the periphery of the surface.

It is desirable that the zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention satisfies the following conditional formula (2): 1.9<f3/fw<2.6  (2), where

f3: a focal length of the third lens group, and

fw: a focal length of an entire lens system at the wide angle end.

It is desirable that the zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention satisfies the following conditional formula (3): 6.6<f1/fw<8.5  (3), where

f1: a focal length of the first lens group, and

fw: a focal length of an entire lens system at the wide angle end.

In the zoom lens of the present invention, it is desirable that displacement of an image caused by vibration of the zoom lens is corrected by moving the third lens group in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis.

An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes the aforementioned zoom lens of the present invention.

The zoom lens of the present invention includes first through fourth lens groups having positive refractive power, negative refractive power, positive refractive power and positive refractive power, respectively, in this order from an object side, and a stop located between a most image-side surface of the second lens group and a most image-side surface of the third lens group. Further, distances between the lens groups change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end. Further, the third lens group consists of a positive lens, a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side, and a biconvex lens, which are in this order from the object side. Therefore, it is possible to achieve excellent optical performance realizing a small Fno. and high image qualities while the size of the zoom lens is small and the magnification ratio of the zoom lens is high. Further, the zoom lens of the present invention satisfies conditional formula (1). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the zoom lens while maintaining high optical performance in which aberrations are corrected in a well-balanced manner from a center of an angle of view through a periphery of the angle of view.

When the image-side surface of the negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side in the third lens group uses an aspherical surface in which positive refractive power becomes weaker from an optical axis toward the periphery of the surface, it is possible to more excellently correction a spherical aberration.

Further, when the present invention satisfies conditional formula (2), it is possible to more excellently correct a spherical aberration, and to reduce Fno. while maintaining the small size of the zoom lens. Further, when the present invention satisfies conditional formula (3), it is possible to reduce the size of the zoom lens while excellently correcting a longitudinal aberration.

When displacement of an image caused by vibration of the zoom lens is corrected by moving the third lens group in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, it is possible to more excellently correct various aberrations caused by vibration of the zoom lens.

The imaging apparatus of the present invention includes the high performance zoom lens of the present invention. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the whole apparatus, and to increase the magnification, and to obtain photographic images with higher image qualities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section illustrating the lens structure of a zoom lens in Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section illustrating the lens structure of a zoom lens in Example 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross section illustrating the lens structure of a zoom lens in Example 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross section illustrating the lens structure of a zoom lens in Example 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross section illustrating the lens structure of a zoom lens in Example 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross section illustrating the lens structure of a zoom lens in Example 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 7, Sections A through O are aberration diagrams of the zoom lens in Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 8, Sections A through O are aberration diagrams of the zoom lens in Example 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 9, Sections A through O are aberration diagrams of the zoom lens in Example 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 10, Sections A through O are aberration diagrams of the zoom lens in Example 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 11, Sections A through O are aberration diagrams of the zoom lens in Example 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 12, Sections A through O are aberration diagrams of the zoom lens in Example 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the front side of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the back side of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross section illustrating the structure of a zoom lens according to an embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to a zoom lens in Example 1, which will be described later. FIG. 2 through FIG. 6 are cross sections illustrating the structure of zoom lenses in Example 2 through Example 6, which will be described later, respectively. The basic structure of the zoom lenses illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 is similar to each other, and an illustration method is also similar. Therefore, the zoom lens illustrated in FIG. 1 will be mainly described, as an example.

Here, the left side of FIG. 1 is an object side, and the right side of FIG. 1 is an image side. In FIG. 1, the top part illustrates the arrangement of lenses when the zoom lens is focused on an object at infinity at a wide angle end, and the middle part illustrates the arrangement of lenses when the zoom lens is focused on an object at infinity at a middle position, and the bottom part illustrates the arrangement of lenses when the zoom lens is focused on an object at infinity at a telephoto end. Solid-line curves between the top part and the middle part and solid-line curves between the middle part and the bottom part schematically illustrate paths of movement of the lens groups during magnification change.

The zoom lens illustrated in FIG. 1 includes first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, and fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power, which are in this order along optical axis Z from an object side. The zoom lens is structured in such a manner that distances between the lens groups change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end. Specifically, in the zoom lens of the present invention, a distance between first lens group G1 and second lens group G2, a distance between second lens group G2 and third lens group G3, and a distance between third lens group G3 and fourth lens group G4 change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end. Further, aperture stop St is arranged between second lens group G2 and third lens group G3.

For example, in the zoom lens illustrated in FIG. 1, the lens groups move in such a manner to draw paths indicated by arrows in the diagram when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end. Specifically, each of four lens groups, i.e., first lens group G1, second lens group G2, third lens group G3 and fourth lens group G4, moves in the direction of the optical axis in such a manner that a distance between first lens group G1 and second lens group G2 increases, and a distance between second lens group G2 and third lens group G3 decreases, and a distance between third lens group G3 and fourth lens group G4 increases. Further, a distance between fourth lens group G4 and an image formation surface 100 also changes during magnification change. In the example of the zoom lens illustrated in FIG. 1, aperture stop St moves in such a manner to be integrated with third lens group G3 during magnification change.

Aperture stop St illustrated in FIG. 1 does not necessarily represent the size nor the shape of aperture stop St, but the position of aperture stop St on optical axis Z.

When the zoom lens is applied to an imaging apparatus, it is desirable to arrange a cover glass, various filters, such as an infrared cut filter and a low-pass filter, and the like between the most image-side lens and the image formation surface (imaging surface) 100 based on the structure of a camera on which the lens is mounted. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which parallel-flat-plate-shaped optical member PP, which is assumed to be such members, is arranged on the image side of fourth lens group G4.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, when the zoom lens is applied to an imaging apparatus, an imaging surface of an imaging device is arranged at the image formation surface 100.

The structure of each lens group of the zoom lens illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.

First lens group G1, as a whole, has positive refractive power. Here, first lens group G1 consists of a cemented lens of negative lens L11 and positive lens L12 in this order from the object side.

Second lens group G2, as a whole, has negative refractive power. It is desirable that second lens group G2 consists of negative lens L21, biconcave negative lens L22, and positive lens L23 in this order from the object side. Further, it is desirable that at least one of the surfaces of biconcave negative lens L22 in second lens group G2 is aspherical. Here, both surfaces of negative lens L22 are aspherical.

Third lens group G3, as a whole, has positive refractive power. Third lens group G3 consists of positive lens L31, a cemented lens of positive lens L32 and negative lens L33, negative meniscus lens L34 with its concave surface facing the object side, and biconvex positive lens L35 in this order from the object side.

Regarding negative lens L34 and biconvex lens L35, which are the first lens and the second lens from the image side in third lens group G3, in other words, two most image-side lenses in third lens group G3, it is desirable that three surfaces of four surfaces of the two lenses are convex surfaces, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 1.

Further, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, it is desirable that the image-side surface of negative meniscus lens L34 is an aspherical surface in which positive refractive power becomes weaker from the optical axis toward the periphery of the surface.

Further, the object-side surface of negative meniscus lens L34 may be aspherical. Further, a surface or both surfaces of most object-side positive lens L31 may be aspherical. Here, the object-side surface of positive lens L31 is aspherical.

It is desirable that displacement of an image caused by vibration of the zoom lens is corrected by moving third lens group G3 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

Fourth lens group G4, as a whole, has positive refractive power. Here, fourth lens group G4 consists of one lens of positive lens L41.

Further, this zoom lens satisfies the following conditional formula (1): −0.7<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.4  (1), where

R17: a paraxial curvature radius of the image-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group, and

R18: a paraxial curvature radius of the object-side surface of the biconvex lens the in the third lens group.

Further, it is desirable that this zoom lens satisfies the following conditional formulas (2) through (6). A desirable mode may satisfy one of conditional formulas (2) through (6). Alternatively, an arbitrary combination of formulas (2) through (6) may be satisfied: 1.9<f3/fw<2.6  (2); 6.6<f1/fw<8.5  (3); −60.0<(R16+R17)/(R16−R17)<−0.8  (4); 5.5<fw·tan ω<7.0  (5); and 36<ω<44  (6), where

f3: a focal length of the third lens group,

f1: a focal length of the first lens group,

R16: a paraxial curvature radius of the object-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group,

fw: a focal length of the entire lens system at a wide angle end, and

ω: a half angle of view.

In the zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable that a specific material arranged on the most object side is glass. Alternatively, transparent ceramic may be used.

As the material of a lens on which an aspherical surface is formed, glass may be used. Alternatively, plastic may be used. When plastic is used, it is possible to reduce the weight and the cost.

Further, it is desirable that a multi-layer coating for protection is applied to the zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention. Further, an anti-reflection coating for reducing ghost light or the like during usage may be applied besides the coating for protection.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which optical member PP is arranged between the lens system and an image formation surface. Instead of arranging various filters, such as a low-pass filter and a filter that cuts a specific wavelength band, or the like, these various filters may be arranged between lenses. Alternatively, a coating having an action similar to the various filters may be applied to one of the lens surfaces of the lenses.

An aperture stop may be arranged at any position as long as the aperture stop is located between the most image-side surface of the second lens group and the most image-side surface of the third lens group. Further, whether the aperture stop moves or not is not limited to the aforementioned example. For example, the aperture stop may be fixed during magnification change. Alternatively, the aperture stop may move independently of lens groups.

The action and the effect of the zoom lens, which is structured as described above, will be described.

As described above, the zoom lens illustrated in FIG. 1 includes the first through fourth lens groups, which are a positive lens group, a negative lens group, a positive lens group and a positive lens group, in this order from the object side, and a stop located between the most image-side surface in the second lens group and the most image-side surface in the third lens group. In the zoom lens, distances between the lens groups change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end. Further, the third lens group consists of a positive lens, a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side, and a biconvex lens in this order from the object side. Therefore, it is possible to achieve excellent optical performance with a small Fno. and high image qualities while the zoom lens has small size and a high magnification ratio. Especially, this structure can reduce the amount of movement of third lens group G3, which is located in the vicinity of aperture stop St, during magnification change, compared with conventional structure. In other words, it is possible to make the amount of movement of the lens group located next to and on the image side of aperture stop St from the image formation surface small. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a small Fno. both at a telephoto end and at a wide angle end. In contrast, for example, in Example 1 of Patent Document 1, Fno. is large at a telephoto end and at a wide angle end. In Patent Document 2, Fno. is large at a telephoto end.

Further, the aforementioned structure can optimize the refractive power of each lens group. Therefore, it is possible to realize a zoom lens that can cope with an image size, for example, such as ⅔ inch type, which is larger than a conventional image size, while reducing the total length of the zoom lens. Accordingly, it is possible to satisfy a need in development that a larger size image sensor is to be adopted to improve image qualities of digital cameras or the like. In contrast, for example, in the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 3, the total length of the zoom lens is relatively too long, compared with the image size. Therefore, it is impossible to realize an image size corresponding to a large image sensor, such as ⅔ inch type, while maintaining the compactness of the zoom lens in total length.

Further, in Patent Document 2, an angle of view at a wide angle end is small. In contrast, the zoom lens of the aforementioned structure can achieve the aforementioned effect, while maintaining the angle of view at a wide angle end.

Further, since first lens group G1 consists of two lenses, it is possible to make the thickness (a length in the direction of the optical axis) of first lens group G1 small, and to reduce the size. Further, when negative lens L11 and positive lens L12 are a cemented lens, it is possible to make an air space between negative lens L11 and positive lens L12 zero. That contributes to reduction in the thickness of first lens group G1. Further, since the number of lenses in first lens group G1 is suppressed, it is possible to reduce the cost.

Further, second lens group G2 includes biconcave negative lens L22, which is the second lens from the object side. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately suppress a fluctuation of aberrations during magnification change, while securing sufficient negative refractive power of second lens group G2. Further, it is possible to effectively suppress various aberrations generated in second lens group G2.

Further, second lens group G2 consists of only single lenses. Therefore, the number of surfaces that contact with air is large, compared with a case in which second lens group G2 includes a cemented lens. That is advantageous to correction of aberrations when the angle of view is increased.

Third lens group G3 includes negative meniscus lens L34 with its concave surface facing the object side. Therefore, it is possible to balance various aberrations at a periphery of the angle of view, while maintaining the short total length of the zoom lens. Further, regarding two lenses located on the most image side of third lens group G3, three surfaces of the four surfaces of the two lenses are convex. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the zoom lens, compared with the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 2, while excellently correcting a spherical aberration and astigmatism.

When the image-side surface of negative meniscus lens L34 is an aspherical surface in which its positive refractive power becomes weaker from the optical axis toward the periphery of the surface, it is possible to excellently correct a spherical aberration even through the spherical aberration tends to increase as Fno. becomes smaller.

When positive lens L32 and negative lens L33 in the third lens group are a cemented lens, that contributes to reduction in the thickness of third lens group G3. Further, it is possible to excellently correct chromatic aberrations and other various aberrations.

When displacement of an image caused by vibration of the zoom lens is corrected by moving third lens group G3 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, it is possible to more excellently correct various aberrations caused by vibration of the zoom lens by moving the whole third lens group G3 even if the zoom lens has a small Fno. as illustrated in FIG. 1. In contrast, when a part of third lens group G3, for example, only one lens in the third lens group is moved in the orthogonal direction as in Patent Document 2, it is impossible to sufficiently correct various aberrations of the zoom lens having a small Fno. as illustrated in FIG. 1 during vibration of the zoom lens.

When fourth lens group G4 consists of one lens, that contributes to reduction of the total length of the entire zoom lens, which is desirable. Further, it is possible to structure fourth lens group G4 in light weight. Therefore, quick focusing is easy when focusing is performed by fourth lens group G4.

Conditional formula (1) defines a desirable range of the curvature radii of negative meniscus lens L34 with its concave surface facing the object side and biconvex lens L35, which are included in third lens group G3, in the vicinity of the optical axis. Conditional formula (1) defines the desirable range of the curvature radius of the image-side surface of lens L34 and the curvature radius of the object-side surface of lens L35. If the value is lower than the lower limit of conditional formula (1), it becomes difficult to maintain the refractive power of negative meniscus lens L34 while keeping the balance of aberrations. Therefore, it becomes necessary to increase the total length of the zoom lens to keep the balance of aberrations. If the value exceeds the upper limit of conditional formula (1), astigmatism in a peripheral portion of the image formation area increases. When the zoom lens is structured in such a manner to have curvature radii of negative meniscus lens L34 and biconvex lens L35 satisfying conditional formula (1), it is possible to excellently correct astigmatism also in the peripheral portion of the image formation area while reducing the total length of the zoom lens. It is desirable that the numerical value range of conditional formula (1) is as follows to obtain more excellent optical performance while reducing the total length: −0.6<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.1  (1-1).

It is more desirable that the following conditional formula is satisfied: −0.5<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.0  (1-2).

Conditional formula (2) defines a desirable range of the ratio of the focal length of third lens group G3 and the focal length at a wide angle end of the entire zoom lens. If the value is lower than the lower limit of conditional formula (2), that is advantageous to reduction of the total length of the entire zoom lens and achievement of a small Fno., but a spherical aberration tends to increase. If the value exceeds the upper limit of conditional formula (2), the refractive power of third lens group G3 becomes weak. Therefore, it becomes difficult to reduce Fno., while keeping the total length of the zoom lens short. Therefore, when third lens group G3 and the other lens groups are structured so as to satisfy conditional formula (2), it is possible to reduce the Fno. of the zoom lens while suppressing a spherical aberration and an increase in the total length of the zoom lens. It is desirable that the numerical value range of conditional formula (2) is as follows to obtain more excellent optical performance while reducing the total length: 2.1<f3/fw<2.3  (2-1).

Conditional formula (3) defines a desirable range of the ratio of the focal length of first lens group G1 and the focal length at a wide angle end of the entire zoom lens. If the value is lower than the lower limit of conditional formula (3), the refractive power of first lens group G1 becomes strong. Therefore, distortion tends to increase, and a longitudinal aberration at a telephoto end tends to increase. If the distortion and the longitudinal aberration increase, it becomes necessary to take further measures, such as addition of a lens and change of a spherical lens to an aspherical lens, and that is not desirable. If the value exceeds the upper limit of conditional formula (3), the refractive power of first lens group G1 becomes weak. Therefore, it becomes necessary to increase the amount of movement of first lens group G1 during magnification change. Therefore, it becomes difficult to keep the total length of the zoom lens at a telephoto end short. Therefore, when first lens group G1 and the other lens groups are structured so as to satisfy conditional formula (3), it is possible to suppress an increase of distortion and to suppress an increase of a longitudinal aberration at a telephoto end. Further, it is possible to maintain the compactness of the zoom lens in total length. It is desirable that the numerical value range of conditional formula (3) is as follows to obtain more excellent optical performance while reducing the total length: 7.3<f1/fw<7.8  (3-1).

Conditional formula (4) defines a desirable range of the curvature radii of the image-side surface and the object-side surface of negative meniscus lens L34 with its concave surface facing the object side, which is included in third lens group G3, in the vicinity of the optical axis. If the value is lower than the lower limit of conditional formula (4), the negative refractive power of negative meniscus lens L34 becomes weak. Therefore, it is impossible to sufficiently correct a spherical aberration and astigmatism in a peripheral portion of the image formation area that are generated in third lens group G3. If the value exceeds the upper limit of conditional formula (4), the negative refractive power of negative meniscus lens L34 becomes strong, and the refractive power of third lens group G3 becomes weak. Therefore, it becomes difficult to reduce the Fno. while keeping the total length of the zoom lens short. Therefore, when the zoom lens is structured in such a manner that the curvature radii of negative meniscus lens L34 satisfy conditional formula (4), it is possible to excellently correct a spherical aberration and astigmatism in the peripheral portion of the image formation area while reducing the total length of the zoom lens and reducing Fno. It is desirable that the numerical value range of conditional formula (4) is as follows to obtain more excellent optical performance while reducing the total length: −50.0<(R16+R17)/(R16−R17)<−1.0  (4-1).

Conditional formula (5) defines the range of the product of a half angle of view and a focal length of the entire system at a wide angle end. If the value is lower than the lower limit of conditional formula (5), the total length of the zoom lens is relatively large, compared with the image size. Therefore, it becomes difficult to cope with a large image size. If the value exceeds the upper limit of conditional formula (5), the lens diameter tends to increase. Therefore, when conditional formula (5) is satisfied, it is possible to realize a zoom lens that can cope with a large image size while maintaining the compactness of the lens diameter and the compactness of the zoom lens in total length.

Conditional formula (6) defines a desirable range of a half angle of view. If the value is lower than the lower limit of conditional formula (6), it becomes difficult to perform photography even in a wide-angle range. If the value exceeds the upper limit of conditional formula (6), distortion increases. Further, it is necessary to increase the lens diameter. Therefore, it becomes difficult to reduce the size of the zoom lens. Hence, when conditional formula (6) is satisfied, it is possible to easily correct distortion, and to realize a zoom lens that has small size and a wide angle of view.

As described above, in the zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lens structure of the zoom lens consisting of four groups is optimized and an appropriate conditional formula or formulas are appropriately satisfied. Therefore, it is possible to maintain excellent optical performance achieving a small Fno. and high image qualities while the zoom lens has small size and a high magnification ratio. Further, according to an imaging apparatus on which the zoom lens according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted, it is possible to reduce the size of the whole apparatus while excellent imaging performance with a high variable magnification ratio is maintained.

Next, numerical value examples of the zoom lens of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 illustrate lens cross sections of zoom lenses of Example 1 through Example 6, respectively.

Table 1 through Table 3, which will be shown later, show specific lens data corresponding to the structure of the zoom lens illustrated in FIG. 1. Specifically, Table 1 shows lens data of the zoom lens in Example 1, and Table 2 shows aspherical surface data of the zoom lens, and Table 3 shows variable magnification data and various data of the zoom lens. Similarly, Table 4 through Table 18 show lens data, aspherical surface data and variable magnification data of the zoom lenses in Examples 2 through 6. Next, the meanings of signs in the tables will be described, using Example 1 as an example. The meaning of signs in the tables of Examples 2 through 6 are basically similar.

In the lens data of Table 1, Si shows the surface numbers of i-th (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) surfaces. The surface number of the most object-side surface of the structure elements is one, and the surface numbers sequentially increase toward the image side. Ri shows the curvature radius of the i-th surface. Di shows a distance, on optical axis Z, between the i-th surface and the (i+1) th surface. In the column of the distance between surfaces, the lowest row shows a distance between the last surface in the table and an image formation surface. In the lens data of Table 1, Ndj shows the refractive index of a j-th (j=1, 2, 3, . . . ) optical element for d-line (wavelength is 587.6 nm) when the most object-side lens is the first optical element, and the value of j sequentially increases toward the image side. Further, vdj shows the Abbe number of the j-th optical element for d-line. The lens data include aperture stop St and optical member PP. The term “(APERTURE STOP)” is written for a surface corresponding to aperture stop St in the column of curvature radius. The curvature radius of the lens data is positive when a surface is convex toward the object side, and negative when a surface is convex toward the image side.

In the lens data of Table 1, DD3 (VARIABLE), DD9 (VARIABLE), DD19 (VARIABLE), DD21 (VARIABLE) and DD23 (VARIABLE) are written in the rows of surface distances corresponding to a distance between first lens group G1 and second lens group G2, a distance between second lens group G2 and aperture stop St, a distance between third lens group G3 and fourth lens group G4, a distance between fourth lens group G4 and optical member PP, and a distance between optical member PP and an image formation surface, respectively, which change when magnification is changed.

In the lens data of Table 1, mark * is attached to the surface number of an aspherical surface. Table 1 shows, as the curvature radius of the aspherical surface, the numerical value of a paraxial curvature radius. The aspherical surface data in Table 2 show surface numbers Si of aspherical surfaces, and aspheric coefficients related to the aspherical surfaces. The aspheric coefficients are coefficients KA, Am (m=3, 4, 5, . . . 20) in the following aspherical equation (A): Zd=C·h ²/{1+(1−KA·C ² ·h ²)^(1/2) }+ΣAm·h ^(m)  (A), where

Zd: the depth of an aspherical surface (the length of a perpendicular from a point on the aspherical surface at height h to a flat plane that contacts with the vertex of the aspherical surface and is perpendicular to the optical axis),

h: a height (the length from the optical axis to the lens surface),

C: the reciprocal of a paraxial curvature radius, and

KA, Am: aspheric coefficients (m=3, 4, 5, . . . 20).

Table 3 shows variable magnification data and various data. The variable magnification data in Table 3 show focal length f of the entire system and values of surface distances DD3, DD9, DD19, DD21 and DD23 at a wide angle end, at middle and at a telephoto end. Further, the various data in Table 3 show values of a zoom magnification ratio (variable magnification ratio), focal length f, back focus Bf (distance in air), F-number Fno. and full angle 2ω of view at each position of a wide angle end, middle and a telephoto end.

As the unit of Ri, Di and f in Table 1, and the unit of f, DD3, DD9, DD19, DD21 and DD23 in Table 3, and the unit of Zd and h in equation (A), “mm” may be used. However, since an optical system can be used by proportionally enlarging or proportionally reducing the optical system, the unit is not limited to “mm”, and other appropriate units may be used. In Table 3, the unit of full angle 2ω of view is degree.

In Examples 4 through 6, the image-side surface of positive lens L31 is also aspherical in addition to the aspherical surfaces provided in Examples 1 through 3.

Table 19 shows values corresponding to conditional formulas (1) through (6) in Examples 1 through 6. As Table 19 shows, all of Examples 1 through 6 satisfy conditional formulas (1) through (6).

FIG. 7, Sections A through E show aberration diagrams of a spherical aberration, sine condition violation amount (the term “SINE CONDITION” is written in the diagram), astigmatism, distortion (distortion aberration), and a lateral aberration (a lateral chromatic aberration) of the zoom lens of Example 1 at a wide angle end, respectively. FIG. 7, Sections F through J show aberration diagrams of a spherical aberration, sine condition violation amount (the term “SINE CONDITION” is written in the diagram), astigmatism, distortion (distortion aberration), and a lateral aberration of the zoom lens of Example 1 in a middle range, respectively. FIG. 7, Sections K through O show aberration diagrams of a spherical aberration, sine condition violation amount (the term “SINE CONDITION” is written in the diagram), astigmatism, distortion (distortion aberration), and a lateral aberration of the zoom lens of Example 1 at a telephoto end, respectively.

The aberration diagrams of the spherical aberration, sine condition violation amount (the term “SINE CONDITION” is written in the diagram), astigmatism, and distortion (distortion aberration) illustrate aberrations when d-line (wavelength is 587.6 nm) is a reference wavelength. The diagrams of the spherical aberration and the lateral aberration illustrate aberrations for d-line, aberrations for C-line (656.3 nm), aberrations for F-line (wavelength is 486.1 nm) and aberrations for g-line (wavelength is 435.8 nm) by a solid line, a dot dashed line, a double dot dashed line and a gray line, respectively. In the diagram of astigmatism, an aberration in a sagittal direction and an aberration in a tangential direction are indicated by a sold line and a broken line, respectively. In the diagram of the spherical aberration and sine condition violation amount, Fno. represents F-number, and in the other diagrams, ω represents a half angle of view.

Similarly, FIG. 8, Sections A through O illustrate aberrations at a wide angle end, at middle, and at a telephoto end of the zoom lens in Example 2. FIG. 9, Sections A through O illustrate aberrations at a wide angle end, at middle, and at a telephoto end of the zoom lens in Example 3. FIG. 10, Sections A through O illustrate aberrations at a wide angle end, at middle, and at a telephoto end of the zoom lens in Example 4. FIG. 11, Sections A through O illustrate aberrations at a wide angle end, at middle, and at a telephoto end of the zoom lens in Example 5. FIG. 12, Sections A through O illustrate aberrations at a wide angle end, at middle, and at a telephoto end of the zoom lens in Example 6.

As the aforementioned data show, the zoom lenses of Examples 1 through 6 have small size, high magnification ratio of about 3.8 times, and excellent optical performance achieving a small Fno. and high image qualities.

Next, an embodiment of an imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are perspective views of a front side and a back side of a digital camera 10 according to an embodiment of an imaging apparatus of the present invention, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 13A, the digital camera 10 includes a zoom lens 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention, an object window 13 a of a finder, and a strobe light output apparatus 14, which outputs strobe light to a subject, which are provided on the front side of a camera body 11. Further, a shutter button 15 is provided on the top surface of the camera body 11. Further, an imaging device 16, such as a CCD and a CMOS, is provided in the camera body 11. The imaging device 16 images an image of a subject formed by the zoom lens 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 13B, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 17 for displaying an image and various kinds of setting screen, an observation window 13 b of the finder, a zoom lever 18 for changing the magnification of the zoom lens 12, and an operation button 19 for performing various kinds of setting are provided on the back side of the camera body 11. The digital camera 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is structured so that light of a subject guided through the object window 13 a of the finder on the front side is recognizable at the observation window 13 b of the finder on the back side.

The zoom lens 12 is arranged in such a manner that the direction of the optical axis of the zoom lens 12 is the same as the direction of the thickness of the camera body 11. As described already, the size of the zoom lens 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention is sufficiently small. Therefore, the total length of the optical system in the direction of the optical axis is short when the zoom lens 12 is collapsed and housed into the main body of the camera body 11. Therefore, it is possible to structure the digital camera 10 so that the thickness of the digital camera 10 is thin. Further, since the zoom lens 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a wide angle of view and excellent optical performance, the digital camera 10 can perform photography with a wide angle of view, and obtain excellent images.

So far, the present invention has been described by using embodiments and examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments nor examples, and various modifications are possible. For example, the values of the curvature radius, a distance between surfaces, refractive index, Abbe number, and the like of each lens element are not limited to the values in the aforementioned examples of numerical values, but may be other values.

In the zoom lens of the present invention, the lens groups that move during magnification change and the direction of movement is not limited to the aforementioned examples.

In the aforementioned embodiment, a digital camera was described as an example of the imaging apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the digital camera. The present invention may be applied to other imaging apparatuses, for example, such as a video camera and a surveillance camera.

TABLE 1 EXAMPLE 1 • BASIC LENS DATA Si Ri Di Ndj νdj 1 38.6302 1.11 1.945945 17.98 2 26.9760 4.30 1.834807 42.72 3 371.8467 DD[3] (VARIABLE)  4 66.7099 1.00 1.882997 40.76 5 8.4132 4.80 *6 −19.0605 1.00 1.583129 59.37 *7 55.6768 0.40 8 24.9067 2.50 1.922860 20.88 9 −499.8687 DD[9] (VARIABLE)  10(APERTURE ∞ 0.85 STOP) *11 14.2177 2.50 1.803603 40.28 12 −250.1461 0.10 13 10.0090 3.41 1.592824 68.62 14 −20.8840 0.70 1.698947 30.13 15 7.4062 2.10 *16 −10.0000 0.90 1.803603 40.28 *17 −20.4609 0.10 18 27.8958 2.90 1.496999 81.54 19 −10.0111 DD[19] (VARIABLE) 20 14.4956 2.80 1.487490 70.24 21 34.9421 DD[21] (VARIABLE) 22 ∞ 2.14 1.516798 64.20 23 ∞ DD[23] (VARIABLE) *ASPHERICAL

TABLE 2 EXAMPLE 1 · ASPHERICAL SURFACE DATA SURFACE NUMBER KA A3 A4 A5 A6 6 −4.148111E+00 1.150223E−03 −6.585878E−04 1.685927E−04 −1.904884E−06 7 −9.950295E+00 9.646437E−04 −4.885791E−04 1.432608E−04 −3.875323E−06 11 3.660046E+00 −4.036084E−05 −5.899152E−05 −3.723504E−06 1.055957E−05 16 −8.971192E+00 −7.781902E−04 −8.305061E−04 −2.230827E−05 −1.358257E−05 17 −5.658450E+00 −8.424122E−04 7.988741E−04 −2.765325E−04 4.453843E−05 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 6 −5.155217E−06 4.256246E−08 1.426374E−07 −1.186533E−08 0.000000E+00 7 −4.241185E−06 9.597971E−08 1.081173E−07 −9.188089E−09 0.000000E+00 11 −9.760767E−07 −4.976513E−07 1.682713E−07 −2.503631E−08 2.157418E−09 16 1.334413E−05 2.007369E−06 −1.003647E−06 −1.949607E−07 8.686077E−08 17 2.895206E−06 3.897227E−07 −7.739047E−07 1.551732E−07 −1.172742E−08 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 −1.060850E−10 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 −7.236734E−09 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 3.933323E−10 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 A17 A18 A19 A20 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00

TABLE 3 DD3 DD9 DD19 DD21 DD23 WIDE ANGLE END 0.40 19.85 6.77 4.10 0.61 MIDDLE 9.03 8.57 10.00 5.55 0.61 TELEPHOTO END 16.30 1.70 18.20 4.65 0.63 ZOOM MAGNIFICATION RATIO f Bf FNo. 2ω[°] WIDE ANGLE END 1.0 7.34 6.12 2.05 79.66 MIDDLE 1.9 14.25 7.57 2.36 41.74 TELEPHOTO END 3.8 27.68 6.69 2.89 21.99

TABLE 4 EXAMPLE 2 • BASIC LENS DATA Si Ri Di Ndj νdj 1 38.8045 1.11 1.945945 17.98 2 27.0005 4.30 1.834807 42.72 3 380.0468 DD[3] (VARIABLE)  4 68.4586 1.00 1.882997 40.76 5 8.3999 4.80 *6 17.9999 1.00 1.583129 59.37 *7 67.5844 0.40 8 24.7817 2.50 1.922860 20.88 9 −499.9100 DD[9] (VARIABLE)  10(APERTURE ∞ 0.85 STOP) *11 13.1753 2.58 1.803603 40.28 12 −578.7547 0.10 13 10.0014 3.21 1.592824 68.62 14 −18.4906 0.70 1.698947 30.13 15 7.3999 2.10 *16 −10.0005 0.90 1.803603 40.28 *17 −20.4695 0.10 18 32.2050 2.80 1.496999 81.54 19 −10.0000 DD[19] (VARIABLE) 20 14.5002 2.73 1.487490 70.24 21 38.3870 DD[21] (VARIABLE) 22 ∞ 2.14 1.516798 64.20 23 ∞ DD[23] (VARIABLE) *ASPHERICAL

TABLE 5 EXAMPLE 2 • ASPHERICAL SURFACE DATA SURFACE NUMBER KA A3 A4 A5 A6 6 −2.901062E+00  8.558786E−04 −1.423880E−04  9.747104E−07 1.874475E−05 7 −2.888808E+00  7.638394E−04 −1.343401E−04  5.018857E−05 −1.876250E−06  11 1.352686E+00 1.708472E−06 5.961844E−06 −2.369872E−05  9.712858E−06 16 −9.037268E+00  −8.568306E−04  −1.018321E−03  −4.797970E−05  −6.757228E−06  17 −4.803615E+00  −8.074333E−04  5.413725E−04 −2.171972E−04  3.686978E−05 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 6 −4.872749E−06  −7.936079E−08  1.190545E−07 −9.066170E−09  0.000000E+00 7 −1.919143E−06  −2.189706E−08  6.609442E−08 −5.362158E−09  0.000000E+00 11 −1.021325E−06  −4.651846E−07  1.765433E−07 −2.439530E−08  1.513925E−09 16 1.563414E−05 2.015413E−06 −1.114956E−06  −2.168310E−07  8.793595E−08 17 1.853103E−06 9.756923E−07 −6.492602E−07  1.301679E−07 −2.479634E−08  A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 −3.537663E−11  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 −6.120171E−09  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 2.767444E−09 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 A17 A18 A19 A20 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00

TABLE 6 DD3 DD9 DD19 DD21 DD23 WIDE ANGLE END 0.40 19.56 6.67 4.11 0.60 MIDDLE 8.42 8.86 10.00 5.32 0.61 TELEPHOTO END 16.67 1.86 18.20 4.31 0.62 ZOOM MAGNIFI- CATION RATIO f Bf FNo. 2ω[°] WIDE ANGLE END 1.0 7.34 6.12 2.04 79.51 MIDDLE 1.9 13.76 7.34 2.34 43.16 TELEPHOTO END 3.8 27.67 6.34 2.88 21.92

TABLE 7 EXAMPLE 3 • BASIC LENS DATA Si Ri Di Ndj νdj 1 37.9403 1.11 1.945945 17.98 2 27.0005 4.40 1.834807 42.72 3 267.9507  DD[3] (VARIABLE) 4 53.7371 1.00 1.882997 40.76 5 8.3999 4.80 *6 −17.9997 1.00 1.583129 59.37 *7 42.2299 0.40 8 23.0485 2.50 1.922860 20.88 9 −2490.0276  DD[9] (VARIABLE) 10 ∞ 0.85 (APERTURE STOP) *11 12.5989 2.50 1.690010 41.12 12 −249.9775 0.10 13 10.0000 3.21 1.610009 60.77 14 42.5880 0.80 1.849991 22.50 15 7.3999 2.00 *16 −10.0000 0.90 1.803603 40.28 *17 −10.5367 0.10 18 24.0114 2.80 1.496999 81.54 19 −22.4908 DD[19] (VARIABLE) 20 14.5002 3.20 1.487490 70.24 21 31.5414 DD[21] (VARIABLE) 22 ∞ 2.14 1.516798 64.20 23 ∞ DD[23] (VARIABLE) *ASPHERICAL

TABLE 8 EXAMPLE 3 • ASPHERICAL SURFACE DATA SURFACE NUMBER KA A3 A4 A5 A6 6 −2.195867E+00 1.451722E−03 −5.679539E−04  9.365583E−05 6.756593E−06 7 −7.362588E+00 1.189265E−03 −3.348586E−04  2.996977E−05 1.385687E−05 11  6.772946E−01 −1.673881E−05  −6.349202E−06  −2.634617E−05  1.085399E−05 16 −1.000001E+01 −6.291315E−04  −9.338862E−04  −7.319346E−05  1.710857E−06 17 −1.443278E+00 −5.592344E−04  2.239497E−04 −1.743068E−04  2.507030E−05 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 6 −4.083758E−06 1.698074E−07 5.580922E−08 −5.102811E−09  0.000000E+00 7 −2.861938E−06 −2.852082E−07  1.035360E−07 −6.678674E−09  0.000000E+00 11 −1.001754E−06 −5.301758E−07  1.684358E−07 −2.296807E−08  2.358925E−09 16  1.552819E−05 1.285019E−06 −1.196719E−06  −1.659198E−07  1.060260E−07 17 −1.314004E−06 1.123274E−06 −4.864124E−07  1.492133E−07 −2.943818E−08  A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 6  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 −1.538920E−10 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 −1.076075E−08 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17  2.133647E−09 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 A17 A18 A19 A20 6  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00

TABLE 9 DD3 DD9 DD19 DD21 DD23 WIDE ANGLE END 0.40 19.33 7.00 3.48 0.61 MIDDLE 7.91 8.59 9.89 5.19 0.62 TELEPHOTO END 16.76 1.79 16.83 5.20 0.64 ZOOM MAGNIFI- CATION RATIO f Bf FNo. 2ω[°] WIDE ANGLE END 1.0 7.34 5.50 2.06 79.54 MIDDLE 1.9 13.76 7.22 2.39 43.74 TELEPHOTO END 3.8 27.67 7.25 2.90 22.19

TABLE 10 EXAMPLE 4 • BASIC LENS DATA Si Ri Di Ndj νdj 1 37.7431 1.11 1.945945 17.98 2 27.0009 4.30 1.834807 42.72 3 230.8905  DD[3] (VARIABLE) 4 52.5088 1.00 1.882997 40.76 5 8.3999 4.80 *6 −17.9999 1.00 1.568672 58.50 *7 38.9329 0.40 8 20.7051 2.25 1.922860 20.88 9 499.9378  DD[9] (VARIABLE) 10 ∞ 0.85 (APERTURE STOP) *11 13.4221 2.50 1.693500 53.20 *12 500.0000 0.10 13 10.0000 2.81 1.834000 37.16 14 429.9398 0.80 1.846660 23.78 15 7.3999 2.00 *16 −10.0000 0.80 1.806100 40.73 *17 −23.4415 0.10 18 22.2529 2.80 1.496999 81.54 19 −10.0000 DD[19] (VARIABLE) 20 14.5805 3.20 1.487490 70.24 21 33.3251 DD[21] (VARIABLE) 22 ∞ 2.14 1.516798 64.20 23 ∞ DD[23] (VARIABLE) *ASPHERICAL

TABLE 11 EXAMPLE 4 • ASPHERICAL SURFACE DATA SURFACE NUMBER KA A3 A4 A5 A6 6 3.381383E+00 1.566718E−03 −6.415315E−04  2.631117E−04 −2.370265E−05  7 −1.000000E+01  1.302736E−03 −5.009606E−04  1.824182E−04 −1.011940E−05  11 −3.115896E−01  −2.190814E−05  4.850561E−05 −1.653513E−05  7.233219E−06 12 −9.999828E+00  9.277381E−05 −1.353852E−04  3.609310E−05 −5.943203E−07  16 −5.733759E+00  4.503320E−04 −7.342864E−04  −3.204549E−05  3.248507E−05 17 −9.377180E+00  2.994306E−04 3.831456E−04 −9.283260E−05  2.399954E−05 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 6 −3.590459E−06  1.946031E−07 1.109239E−07 −1.018293E−08  0.000000E+00 7 −4.111293E−06  −2.413254E−08  1.472820E−07 −1.200901E−08  0.000000E+00 11 7.160280E−07 −9.648388E−08  −3.066909E−08  −6.189859E−09  2.557052E−09 12 2.368305E−07 1.290118E−07 −8.222094E−09  −3.900609E−09  −1.161591E−09  16 8.088889E−06 −1.209053E−07  −2.884267E−07  −1.603364E−07  2.188047E−08 17 6.456346E−06 4.098905E−07 −5.675292E−07  −4.766191E−08  1.866775E−08 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 −1.329708E−10  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 12 2.883796E−10 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 1.811706E−09 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 −5.592284E−11  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 A17 A18 A19 A20 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 12 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00

TABLE 12 DD3 DD9 DD19 DD21 DD23 WIDE ANGLE END 0.40 19.68 6.69 4.29 0.60 MIDDLE 6.56 7.88 10.27 5.91 0.60 TELEPHOTO END 17.18 1.71 17.58 4.87 0.62 ZOOM MAGNIFI- CATION RATIO f Bf FNo. 2ω[°] WIDE ANGLE END 1.0 7.34 6.30 2.06 79.45 MIDDLE 1.9 13.76 7.92 2.42 44.14 TELEPHOTO END 3.8 27.67 6.90 2.89 22.16

TABLE 13 EXAMPLE 5 • BASIC LENS DATA Si Ri Di Ndj νdj 1 37.5580 1.11 1.945945 17.98 2 27.0008 4.30 1.834807 42.72 3 238.1879  DD[3] (VARIABLE) 4 56.2719 1.00 1.882997 40.76 5 8.3999 4.80 *6 −19.9305 1.00 1.568672 58.50 *7 35.8929 0.40 8 21.3952 2.25 1.922860 20.88 9 567.9370  DD[9] (VARIABLE) 10 ∞ 0.85 (APERTURE STOP) *11 13.4382 2.50 1.693500 53.20 *12 500.0000 0.10 13 10.0000 2.81 1.834000 37.16 14 −158.5030 0.80 1.846660 23.78 15 7.4000 2.00 *16 −10.0000 0.80 1.806100 40.73 *17 −17.0571 0.10 18 50.4287 2.80 1.496999 81.54 19 −10.0000 DD[19] (VARIABLE) 20 18.7589 3.20 1.487490 70.24 21 106.8253 DD[21] (VARIABLE) 22 ∞ 2.14 1.516798 64.20 23 ∞ DD[23] (VARIABLE) *ASPHERICAL

TABLE 14 EXAMPLE 5 • ASPHERICAL SURFACE DATA SURFACE NUMBER KA A3 A4 A5 A6 6 2.499953E+00 1.319306E−03 −7.806722E−04  2.825485E−04 −2.409285E−05  7 −4.882191E+00  1.123697E−03 −6.659234E−04  2.162103E−04 −1.161651E−05  11 −4.707829E−01  1.006789E−04 2.678668E−05 −5.617534E−06  8.872089E−06 12 −1.000000E+01  1.406091E−04 −9.143641E−05  3.627575E−05 −9.278819E−07  16 −1.814424E+00  5.785381E−05 −6.369264E−04  −7.446523E−05  3.042711E−05 17 −4.504401E+00  6.540962E−05 −2.054603E−04  −4.751325E−05  2.374952E−05 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 6 −3.725665E−06  1.797725E−07 1.117347E−07 −1.005845E−08  0.000000E+00 7 −4.344847E−06  −2.258312E−08  1.493863E−07 −1.197183E−08  0.000000E+00 11 5.339277E−07 −1.734921E−07  −3.217042E−08  −2.365037E−09  3.081870E−09 12 4.296645E−07 1.382174E−07 −1.235312E−08  −2.092547E−09  −1.104656E−09  16 8.692003E−06 −3.133087E−07  −2.828895E−07  −1.780109E−07  2.735496E−08 17 6.071927E−06 3.212973E−07 −5.388546E−07  −4.869032E−08  1.622629E−08 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 −2.725243E−10  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 12 2.168114E−10 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 1.153302E−09 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 4.209564E−10 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 A17 A18 A19 A20 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 12 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00

TABLE 15 DD3 DD9 DD19 DD21 DD23 WIDE ANGLE END 0.40 19.53 6.59 4.53 0.60 MIDDLE 8.92 8.83 9.29 6.02 0.60 TELEPHOTO END 17.04 1.71 17.51 5.08 0.62 ZOOM MAGNIFI- CATION RATIO f Bf FNo. 2ω[°] WIDE ANGLE END 1.0 7.34 6.54 2.06 79.31 MIDDLE 1.9 13.76 8.03 2.34 43.19 TELEPHOTO END 3.8 27.67 7.11 2.89 22.01

TABLE 16 EXAMPLE 6 • BASIC LENS DATA Si Ri Di Ndj νdj 1 38.3043 1.11 1.945945 17.98 2 27.0005 4.70 1.834807 42.72 3 335.2144  DD[3] (VARIABLE) 4 77.4907 1.20 1.882997 40.76 5 8.3999 4.60 *6 −29.2285 0.80 1.568672 58.50 *7 16.3034 0.60 8 19.4501 2.40 2.000009 23.01 9 499.9101  DD[9] (VARIABLE) 10 ∞ 0.85 (APERTURE STOP) *11 12.4623 2.50 1.693500 53.20 *12 −199.9856 0.10 13 10.0000 2.81 1.850009 31.27 14 −43.0891 0.80 1.859994 22.00 15 7.4000 2.40 *16 −15.3458 0.80 1.806100 40.73 *17 −1047.7895 0.10 18 19.1941 2.80 1.496999 81.54 19 −11.8179 DD[19] (VARIABLE) 20 14.0000 3.20 1.487490 70.24 21 59.1504 DD[21] (VARIABLE) 22 ∞ 0.80 1.516798 64.20 23 ∞ DD[23] (VARIABLE) *ASPHERICAL

TABLE 17 EXAMPLE 6 • ASPHERICAL SURFACE DATA SURFACE NUMBER KA A3 A4 A5 A6 6 3.652016E+00 −5.759874E−04  6.691478E−05 −5.613702E−06  −1.666941E−07  7 1.347782E+00 −5.649817E−04  −4.485573E−05  −1.002794E−07  2.628129E−09 11 4.158355E−01 1.725974E−05 3.217432E−05 5.367633E−07 −6.738687E−09  12 −1.000001E+01  4.804821E−05 1.474285E−05 7.790193E−07 −4.122212E−07  16 9.191173E−01 9.247741E−05 2.737999E−05 4.084738E−06 −9.649417E−08  17 1.000001E+01 6.119721E−05 3.425967E−04 −1.115583E−06  −2.701300E−07  A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 6 5.258255E−08 2.944640E−09 −1.003528E−09  −5.346513E−11  0.000000E+00 7 −5.737917E−08  −5.430559E−09  3.661325E−10 6.927413E−11 0.000000E+00 11 −4.971693E−08  −1.394987E−08  2.940655E−10 2.267825E−09 1.119094E−09 12 −2.481244E−08  1.621462E−08 8.868219E−09 1.406381E−09 4.162061E−10 16 −1.463384E−08  1.355128E−09 7.297709E−10 −4.200110E−11  5.323193E−11 17 7.020756E−07 1.308849E−07 5.377499E−09 −2.213995E−08  1.289176E−09 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 −2.101525E−10  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 12 −1.227125E−10  0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 3.088436E−11 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 4.553041E−10 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 A17 A18 A19 A20 6 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 7 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 11 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 12 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 16 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 17 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00

TABLE 18 DD3 DD9 DD19 DD21 DD23 WIDE ANGLE END 0.71 17.96 6.20 4.25 0.62 MIDDLE 7.87 7.64 8.97 6.32 0.62 TELEPHOTO END 17.26 1.73 15.72 6.42 0.64 ZOOM MAGNIFI- CATION RATIO f Bf FNo. 2ω[°] WIDE ANGLE END 1.0 7.33 5.40 2.06 79.16 MIDDLE 1.9 13.75 7.47 2.39 43.63 TELEPHOTO END 3.8 27.65 7.59 2.89 22.09

TABLE 19 CONDITIONAL EXAM- EXAM- EXAM- EXAM- EXAM- FORMULA PLE 1 PLE 2 PLE 3 PLE 4 PLE 5 (1) (R17 + R18)/ −0.154 −0.223 −0.391 0.026 −0.495 (R17 − R18) (2) f3/fw 2.26 2.24 2.18 2.22 2.22 (3) f1/fw 7.43 7.46 7.58 7.73 7.63 (4) (R16 + R17)/ −2.915 −2.907 −38.462 −2.488 −3.846 (R16 − R17) (5) fw · tanω 6.12 6.10 6.10 6.10 6.08 (6) ω 39.84 39.77 39.79 39.73 39.67 

What is claimed is:
 1. A zoom lens consisting of four lens groups of: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, which are in this order from an object side; and a stop located between a most image-side surface of the second lens group and a most image-side surface of the third lens group, wherein distances between the lens groups change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, wherein the first lens group consists of a cemented lens of a negative lens and a positive lens in this order from the object side, and wherein the third lens group consists of a positive lens, a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side, and a biconvex lens, which are in this order from the object side, and wherein the following conditional formula (1) and (4-2) are satisfied: −0.7<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.4  (1), −3.846≦(R16+R17)/(R16−R17)<−0.8  (4-2), where R16: a paraxial curvature radius of the object-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group, R17: a paraxial curvature radius of an image-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group, and R18: a paraxial curvature radius of an object-side surface of the biconvex lens in the third lens group.
 2. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 1, wherein the following conditional formula (1-1) is satisfied: −0.6<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.1  (1-1).
 3. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 2, wherein the following conditional formula (1-2) is further satisfied: −0.5<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.0  (1-2).
 4. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 1, wherein the image-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group is an aspherical surface in which positive refractive power becomes weaker from an optical axis toward the periphery of the surface.
 5. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 1, wherein the following conditional formula (2) is satisfied: 1.9<f3/fw<2.6  (2), where f3: a focal length of the third lens group, and fw: a focal length of an entire lens system at the wide angle end.
 6. A zoom lens consisting of four lens groups of: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, which are in this order from an object side; and a stop located between a most image-side surface of the second lens group and a most image-side surface of the third lens group, wherein distances between the lens groups change when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, wherein the third lens group consists of a positive lens, a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side, and a biconvex lens, which are in this order from the object side, wherein the following conditional formula (1) is satisfied: −0.7<(R17+R18)/(R17−R18)<1.4  (1), where R17: a paraxial curvature radius of an image-side surface of the negative meniscus lens in the third lens group, and R18: a paraxial curvature radius of an object-side surface of the biconvex lens in the third lens group, wherein the following conditional formula (2) is satisfied: 1.9<f3/fw<2.6  (2), where f3: a focal length of the third lens group, and fw: a focal length of an entire lens system at the wide angle end, and wherein the following conditional formula (2-1) is satisfied: 2.1<f3/fw<2.3  (2-1).
 7. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 1, wherein the following conditional formula (3) is satisfied: 6.6<f1/fw<8.5  (3), where f1: a focal length of the first lens group, and fw: a focal length of an entire lens system at the wide angle end.
 8. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 7, wherein the following conditional formula (3-1) is satisfied: 7.3<f1/fw<7.8  (3-1).
 9. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 1, wherein displacement of an image caused by vibration of the zoom lens is corrected by moving the third lens group in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis.
 10. An imaging apparatus comprising: the zoom lens, as defined in claim
 1. 11. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 1, wherein the following conditional formula (4-3) is satisfied: −3.846<(R16+R17)/(R16−R17)<−1.0  (4-3).
 12. The zoom lens, as defined in claim 11, wherein the following conditional formula (4-4) is satisfied: −2.915<(R16+R17)/(R16−R17)<−1.0  (4-4). 